Don't Be a Suited Sucker
Don't Be a Suited Sucker
It appears to me that every time poker gives birth to a new player they all have the same birth defect - an unnatural attraction to suited cards. I don't know if it's the fact that the cards almost match, but don't. I don't know if people think they were dealt a pair. I just don't know. But if I had a dollar for every time someone played a suited card then... oh wait, I do have lots of dollars from that! Never mind.
Here's why playing cards just because they are suited is stupid and you shouldn't do it.
First, suited cards bring maybe 1-2% more value preflop than unsuited cards. So if you aren't playing K6 unsuited, why dear God why are you playing K6 suited? "I read they make a flush about as often as a pocket pair makes trips." That may be true; however, the next four points will show why this still doesn't make them profitable cards to play.
Second, the flush draw player is the EASIEST player in the world to spot. That means you're going to have to overpay to draw after the flop and/or you will not get paid off when the flush hits. My Amish grandmother can spot a flush draw player!
Third, if you're drawing to a flush and get action after it hits, you better either have the nut flush or check the cards for a board pair. Flush drawers are so easy to spot that the player with the over-flush or the full house is praying that you hit.
Fourth, depending on what you're holding, you might get sucked into a pot where you made top pair crappy kicker. You originally entered the hand looking to make a flush. But you hit top pair and now you think it might be good, so you decide to stick around and find out.
Fifth, and this is the most pathetic player of all, you may have a stroke and decide, when your flush misses on the river, that you can bluff the other player out of the pot. Good luck with that. It's a great way to make a really large bet into a pot that you'll lose over and over and over again.
Are five enough reasons enough? Here's the best way to look at suited cards: Suited Cards aren't suited until AFTER the flop IF the flop gave you a legitimate flush draw. Prior to that, they are just two cards. Play them or not based on their value, not the fact that the little symbols look alike.
If you do this you'll save yourself a lot of money and embarrassment. You won't tilt off because you won't make idiotic moves, and you'll be able to play every hand with confidence and control.
It appears to me that every time poker gives birth to a new player they all have the same birth defect - an unnatural attraction to suited cards. I don't know if it's the fact that the cards almost match, but don't. I don't know if people think they were dealt a pair. I just don't know. But if I had a dollar for every time someone played a suited card then... oh wait, I do have lots of dollars from that! Never mind.
Here's why playing cards just because they are suited is stupid and you shouldn't do it.
First, suited cards bring maybe 1-2% more value preflop than unsuited cards. So if you aren't playing K6 unsuited, why dear God why are you playing K6 suited? "I read they make a flush about as often as a pocket pair makes trips." That may be true; however, the next four points will show why this still doesn't make them profitable cards to play.
Second, the flush draw player is the EASIEST player in the world to spot. That means you're going to have to overpay to draw after the flop and/or you will not get paid off when the flush hits. My Amish grandmother can spot a flush draw player!
Third, if you're drawing to a flush and get action after it hits, you better either have the nut flush or check the cards for a board pair. Flush drawers are so easy to spot that the player with the over-flush or the full house is praying that you hit.
Fourth, depending on what you're holding, you might get sucked into a pot where you made top pair crappy kicker. You originally entered the hand looking to make a flush. But you hit top pair and now you think it might be good, so you decide to stick around and find out.
Fifth, and this is the most pathetic player of all, you may have a stroke and decide, when your flush misses on the river, that you can bluff the other player out of the pot. Good luck with that. It's a great way to make a really large bet into a pot that you'll lose over and over and over again.
Are five enough reasons enough? Here's the best way to look at suited cards: Suited Cards aren't suited until AFTER the flop IF the flop gave you a legitimate flush draw. Prior to that, they are just two cards. Play them or not based on their value, not the fact that the little symbols look alike.
If you do this you'll save yourself a lot of money and embarrassment. You won't tilt off because you won't make idiotic moves, and you'll be able to play every hand with confidence and control.
0 comments